Semiconductor integrated circuit device, method of investigating cause of failure occurring in semiconductor integrated circuit device and method of verifying operation of semiconductor integrated circuit device

ABSTRACT

A NAND EEPROM is disclosed which is capable of variously setting, for each chip, the voltage to be applied to the control gates of memory cells. The semiconductor chip includes a NAND memory cell array and a high-voltage generating circuit for generating data writing internal voltage VPP required when data is written on the memory cell array. Moreover, the semiconductor chip includes a set voltage selection circuit for arbitrarily setting the level of the voltage VPP generated by the high-voltage generating circuit for each chip and a multiplexer for extracting, to the outside of the chip, setting signal LTF which is a signal for enabling the level of the voltage VPP set arbitrarily.

This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/317,167filed on May 24, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,172,930; which is a Divisionalof U.S. application Ser. No. 09/079,397, filed May 15, 1998 now U.S.Pat. No. 5,943,282; which is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.08/706,434 filed on Aug. 30, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,812,455.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuitdevice having, in a semiconductor chip thereof, a voltage generatingcircuit for generating operation voltage required for an integratedcircuit thereof, a method of investigating a cause of a failure if thefailure takes place in the semiconductor integrated circuit device, anda method of verifying the operation of the semiconductor integratedcircuit device.

2. Description of the Related Art

An EEPROM, which is one of non-volatile memories, permits data to beelectrically written thereto and data to be electrically erasedtherefrom. A portion of EEPROM, for example, an EEPROM called NANDEEPROM, uses a tunnel current when data is electrically written orerased. The NAND EEPROM has a plurality of memory cells (hereinaftercalled “cells”) serially connected between bit lines and the groundlines. A portion of the NAND EEPROM comprises, in the chip thereof, avoltage generating circuit for generating writing/erasing voltage, thelevel of which is higher than the power supply voltage. The NAND EEPROMcan be operated by only supplying one type of power supply voltage.

FIGS. 28A to 28C show a cell of the NAND EEPROM. FIG. 28A is a planeview, FIG. 28B is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I shown inFIG. 28A, and FIG. 28C is a cross-sectional view taken along line II—IIshown in FIG. 28A.

FIG. 28A shows two cells, in series, connected to each other. Then, thestructure of the cell will now be described while paying attention toone of the two cells.

As shown in FIGS. 28A to 28C, an N-type silicon substrate 1 includes aP⁻ type well 2 formed therein. The well 2 includes a plurality of N⁺type diffusion layers 3 formed therein. The N⁺ type diffusion layers 3serve as sources and drains of the cell. A portion of the substrate 1between the N⁺ type diffusion layers 3 is used as a channel region 4. Onthe channel region 4, there is formed a gate oxide film (SiO₂) 5. Notethat a thick silicon dioxide film (SiO₂) 6 formed on the well 2 is afield insulating film for separating the cells from one another. Thefield insulating film 6 is formed by LOCOS (Localized Oxidation ofSilicon) A floating gate 7 is formed on the top surface of the gateoxide film 5 to the field insulating film 6. The floating gate 7 is madeof electrically conductive polysilicon. The floating gate 7 is a chargestorage layer for enabling the threshold of the cell to be variable.Therefore, the floating gate 7 is formed for each cell. On the floatinggate 7, there is formed a control gate 9 through an interlayerinsulating film (SiO₂). The control gate 9 is made of electricallyconductive polysilicon. The control gate 9 serves as a word line.

The method for writing data “0” in the cell will now be described.

The well 2 and the N⁺ type diffusion layers 3 respectively are grounded,and then program potential VPP (about 20V) is applied to the controlgate 9. As a result, the control gate 9 and the floating gate 7 arecapacity-coupled to each other so that the potential of the floatinggate 7 is raised. The conduction type of the channel region 4 isreversed from P type to N type. The N-type channel region 4 is connectedto the N-type diffusion layer 3. The potential of the channel region 4is made to be the ground potential. Thus, the potential difference takesplace between the channel region 4, which has been made to be the groundpotential, and the floating gate 7. Therefore, a tunnel current flowsfrom the floating gate 7 to the channel region 4 (and the N⁺ typediffusion layers 3). When the tunnel current has been allowed to flow,electrons are injected into the floating gate 7. The floating gate 7,into which electrons have been injected, is negatively charged. When thefloating gate 7 has been negatively charged, the threshold of the cellis raised. When the threshold of the cell has been raised, the cell isturned off when data is read out. The foregoing state is a state inwhich data “0” has been written. When data is read out, the state inwhich the cell has been turned on, is a state in which data “1” has beenwritten. In this specification, the method of writing data “1” isomitted from description.

The magnitude of the tunnel current depends upon the level of thepotential between the floating gate 7 and the channel region 4. Sincechange in the magnitude of the tunnel current causes the amount ofelectrons to be injected into the floating gate 7 to be changed, theamount of charge of the floating gate 7 is changed. That is, even if thesame program potential VPP is applied to the control gate 9, change inthe intensity of the electric field E results in the threshold of thecell being changed.

The electric field E is represented by the following equation:

E={C _(CF)/(C _(CF) +C _(FS))}×(1/t _(GAOX))×V  (1)

wherein C_(CF) is the capacity of a capacitor between the control gate 9and the floating gate 7, C_(FS) is the capacity of the capacitor betweenthe control gate 9 and the channel region 4, t_(GAOX) is the thicknessof the gate oxide film 5 and V is the voltage to be applied to thecontrol gate 9.

An assumption is performed that a capacitor having capacity C_(CF) and acapacitor having capacity C_(FS) are parallel-plate type capacitorsrespectively having areas S_(CF) and S_(FS). Moreover, thickness of theinterlayer insulating film 8 is assumed to be t_(INTER).

Assuming that the gate oxide film 5 and the interlayer insulating film 8are made of the same material (SiO₂) having the same dielectricconstant, the foregoing Equation (1) can be converted into the followingequation:

E=(V/t _(GAOX))×[1/{1+(S _(FS) /S _(CF))×(t _(INTER) /t _(GAOX))}]  (2)

As can be understood from Equation (2), the electric field E is ininverse proportion to the thickness t_(GAOX) and the area S_(FS). Thearea S_(FS) is determined by gate width W shown in FIG. 28B and gatelength L shown in FIG. 28C.

The thickness t_(GAOX) of the gate oxide film 5 is determined in anoxidizing process for forming the gate oxide film 5. The gate length Lis determined in a lithography process for patterning the control gate 9and the floating gate 7. That is, each of the thickness t_(GAOX), thegate width W and the gate length L unintentionally contains dispersion(dispersion occurring during the manufacturing process) from a designedvalue. Since each of the thickness t_(GAOX), the gate width W and thegate length L contains dispersion from the designed value as describedabove, the electric field E cannot be constant for all chips.

However, since the voltage V is fixed for all chips, the quantity ofelectrons to be injected into the floating gate 7 is dispersed for eachchip.

The dispersion becomes greatest for each manufacturing lot because thesame manufacturing conditions cannot be allowed to reappear for all lotseven if the manufacturing process is performed on the same manufacturingline.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To prevent dispersion in the quantity of electrons to be injected intothe floating gate 7, it might be considered to feasible to employ acontrivance with which the voltage to be applied to the control gate 9is made to be variable for each chip. The voltage to be applied to thecontrol gate 9 is set by using a fuse. However, the method of settingthe voltage by using the fuse cannot enable the set voltage level toeasily be known after the semiconductor integrated circuit device hasbeen packaged. To detect the set voltage level, the package is needed tobe decomposed to take out the chip, followed by decomposing the chip tovisually confirm whether the fuse has been disconnected.

If the integrated circuit device encounters a failure, investigation ofthe cause of the failure is a critical fact to significantly improve thereliability of the products and manufacturing yield of the same.

The causes of failures experienced with the integrated circuit devicehave not been limited to simple causes, such as short circuit andbreakdown, as the structure of the integrated circuit device has beencomplicated. For example, the causes are exemplified by interference ofcircuits and a peculiar phenomenon occurring during the operation of thecircuit, each of which cannot be expected at the time of designing theintegrated circuit device.

Although the chip is, as a matter of course, de composed to investigatethe cause of the failure, the decomposition results in the device to bebroken and, therefore, it cannot be operated anymore. Thus, interferenceof circuits and a peculiar phenomenon occurring during the operation ofthe circuit, each of which cannot be expected cannot be investigated.

In view of the foregoing, a first object of the present invention is toprovide a semiconductor integrated circuit device capable of detecting aset internal voltage level without a necessity of decomposing thepackage and the chip even after the chip has been packaged and a methodof investigating the cause of a failure in a semiconductor integratedcircuit device using the foregoing semiconductor integrated circuitdevice.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductorintegrated circuit device capable of previously verifying the operationof an integrated circuit at each set internal voltage level and a methodof verifying the operation of a semiconductor integrated circuit deviceusing the semiconductor integrated circuit device.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductorintegrated circuit device having a circuit for setting the internalvoltage level to be any one of variable levels, capable of minimizingthe size of the circuit and thus having a small area.

To achieve the first object, a semiconductor integrated circuit deviceaccording to the present invention comprising: a semiconductor chip; anintegrated circuit provided in the chip; an internal voltage generatingcircuit for generating an internal voltage used in the integratedcircuit; an internal voltage setting circuit for setting a level of theinternal voltage; and a level-setting information extracting circuit forextracting a level-setting information from the internal voltage settingcircuit to the outside of the chip.

To achieve the second object, a semiconductor integrated circuit deviceaccording to the present invention comprising: a semiconductor chip; anintegrated circuit provided in the chip; an internal voltage generatingcircuit for generating an internal voltage used in the integratedcircuit; an internal voltage setting circuit for setting a level of theinternal voltage; a determining circuit for determining the level of theinternal voltage; and a changing circuit for changing the level of theinternal voltage before the determining circuit determines the level ofthe internal voltage.

To achieve the third object, a semiconductor integrated circuit deviceaccording to the present invention comprising: a semiconductor chip; anintegrated circuit provided in the chip; an internal voltage generatingcircuit for generating first and second internal voltages used in theintegrated circuit; a first internal voltage setting circuit for settinga level of the first internal voltage; and a second internal voltagesetting circuit for setting a level of the second internal voltage.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectsand advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means ofthe instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention and, together with the general description given above andthe detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a NAND EEPROM according to a firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a NAND EEPROM cell;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a high-voltage generating circuit;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a voltage boosting circuit;

FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram showing voltage raising clocks;

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a voltage limiting circuit;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a voltage setting circuit;

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing a programming circuit and voltagesetting signal generating circuit;

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing a decoder;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between states of fusesand the levels of setting signals;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the states of thefuse and values input to the decoder;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the relationship between the states of thefuse and values output from the decoder;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a portion in the vicinity of amultiplexer;

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram showing the multiplexer;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a NAND EEPROM according to a secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram showing a programming circuit, a voltagesetting signal generating circuit and programming circuit for a test;

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a portion in the vicinity of themultiplexer;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a NAND EEPROM according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a circuit diagram showing a programming circuit, a voltagesetting signal generating circuit and a programming circuit for a test;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing the programming circuit, the voltagesetting signal generating circuit and the programming circuit for atest;

FIG. 21 is a circuit diagram showing a decoder;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the relationship between the states of thefuse and the levels of the setting signal;

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the relationship between the states of thefuse and input values to the decoder;

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the relationship between the states of thefuse and output values from the decoder;

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing a row address decoder, a rowselection line driver and a memory cell array 10;

FIG. 26 is a circuit diagram showing an operation circuit;

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing the power supply voltage levels V1 to V3and levels of control signals S1 to S5;

FIG. 28A is a plane view showing a memory cell;

FIG. 28B is a cross sectional view taken along line I—I shown in FIG.28A; and

FIG. 28C is a cross sectional view taken along line II—II shown in FIG.28A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described.The description will be made below such that the same elements are giventhe same reference numerals and the same elements are omitted from thedescription to prevent overlap.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a NAND EEPROM according to a firstembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showingthe NAND EEPROM cell.

As shown in FIG. 1, a memory array 10 serving as a circuit for storingdata is disposed in a integrated circuit chip. The memory array cell 10has NAND EEPROM cells shown in FIG. 2 and formed into a matrixconfiguration. The NAND type cell 12 includes EEPROM cells 14 connectedserially. The EEPROM cell 14 basically is an insulating gate type FETand has a characteristic that it has a floating gate serving as a chargestorage portion in a gate insulating film thereof. The EEPROM cell 14 isable to change the threshold of the insulating gate type FET bynegatively (or positively) charging the floating gate. Since thethreshold can be changed, the EEPROM cell 14 is able to store data “0”or “1”. One of methods for negatively charging the floating gate is toinject electrons into the floating gate. The state where the floatinggate has been negatively changed is a state where data “0” has beenstored. To erase data “0”, electrons are required to be removed from thefloating gate. Thus, the stored data is converted from “0” to “1” sothat data “0” is erased.

The gate of the EEPROM cell 14 is connected to a control gate line (CG1to CG8) which is one of row selection lines. An end of a current pass ofthe NAND type cell 12 is, through a selection gate 16, connected to abit line (BL0 to BLn), and another end of the same is, through aselection gate 18, connected to a source line (SL). The gate of theselection gate 16 is connected to a first selection gate line (SG1)which is one of the row selection lines, while the gate of the selectiongate 18 is connected to a second selection gate line (SG2) which is theother of the row selection lines.

A circuit for operating the NAND EEPROM shown in FIG. 1 will now bedescribed together with the description of the operation of the circuitto be performed when data is read.

As shown in FIG. 1, the row selection lines (CG and SG) are selected byusing row address. The row address is input to a row address decoder 22through a row address buffer 20 so as to be decoded. Row selection linesamong an extensive number of the row selection lines that correspond toa result of the decoding operations are activated. The activated rowselection lines are applied with predetermined internal voltage by a rowselection line driver 24, The row selection lines applied with thepredetermined internal voltage select rows in the memory cell array 10.

Data “0” or “1” is, to bit lines (BL0 to BLn), read from the NAND typecell 12 and the EEPROM cell 14 corresponding to the selected rows. Dataread to the bit line is stored/amplified by a data register/senseamplifier 26. The data register/sense amplifier 26 is connected to acolumn gate 26. A column selection line (CSL) is connected to the columngate 28 so that a column selection signal is supplied.

The column selection line (CSL) is selected by using column address. Thecolumn address is supplied to a column address decoder 32 through acolumn address buffer 30 so as to be decoded. Among an extensive numberof column selection lines, column selection lines corresponding to aresult of the decoding operation are selected and activated. Theactivated column selection lines supply column selection signals to thecolumn gate 28. The column gate 28 supplied with the column selectionsignal causes data register/sense amplifier 26 to be connected to an I/Odata bus 34.

Thus, selection of the rows and columns, from which data are needed tobe read, from the memory cell array 10 having the cell blocks 14arranged into the matrix configuration has been completed. Since therows and columns have been selected, cells 14 among the extensive numberof cells 14 to which access are needed to be made are determined. Then,data “0” or “1” stored in the cells 14 is read from the cells 14determined to be accessed so as to be read to an I/O data bus 34.

Data (DOUT) read to the I/O data bus 34 is, through an output buffer 36,supplied to an I/O pad group 38. I/O pads provided for the I/O pad group38 are junctions between the integrated circuit chip and the outside.Lead terminals of the integrated circuit device are connected to the I/Opads. Data (DOUT) supplied to the I/O pad is supplied to lead lines (notshown) so as to be transmitted to the outside of the semiconductorcircuit chip. Then, the operation of writing data on the NAND EEPROMaccording to the first embodiment will now be described.

The NAND EEPROM shown in FIG. 1 has functions with which data can bewritten thereto, all of written data items can collectively be erasedtherefrom, a portion of written data can be erased therefrom and newdata can be written to an area from which stored data has been erased.

When data is written, data (DIN) to be written, is supplied from a leadterminal (not shown) to the I/O pad. Data supplied to the I/O pad is,through an input buffer 40, transferred to the I/O data bus 34. Datasupplied to the I/O data bus 34 is supplied to the data register/senseamplifier 26.

In order to supply data to the data register/sense amplifier 26 in thecolumn to which data is intended to be written, column selection linesamong extensive number of column selection lines (CSL) that are neededto be activated are selected by using the column address similarly tothe reading process.

The activated column selection lines supply column selection signals tothe column gate 28. The column gate 28 supplied with the columnselection signals causes the bit line to be connected to the dataregister/sense amplifier 26.

Data supplied to the data register/sense amplifier 26 through the columngate 28 is stored/amplified by the data register/sense amplifier 26.

In order to select rows, to which data to be written, after data hasbeen stored/amplified by the data register/sense amplifier 26, rowselection lines, to be activated, are selected from extensive number ofrow selection lines (CG and SG) by using row address similarly to thereading process. Among the selected row selection lines, the controlgate line (CG) to be connected to the gate of the cell 14 is appliedwith internal voltage VPP for writing data by the row selection linedriver 24, the internal voltage VPP for writing data being higher thanpower supply voltage VCC.

Thus, selection of columns and rows, to which data is needed to bewritten, from the memory cell array 10 having the cell blocks 14 formedinto the matrix configuration is completed. Since the rows and columnshave been selected as described above, cells 14, to which data is neededto be written, are determined among the extensive number of the cells14. Thus, data is written on the determined cells 14.

Then, the circuit for generating the internal voltage VPP for writingdata will now be described together with the operation for generatingthe voltage.

As shown in FIG. 1, the internal voltage VPP for writing data isgenerated by a high-voltage generating circuit 42.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the high-voltage generating circuit 42shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the high-voltage generating circuit 42 includes acharge pump type voltage boosting circuit 44 serving as a booster. Thevoltage boosting circuit 44 raises power supply voltage VCC (about 3.3V)by using voltage raising clocks φ1 and φ2. The voltage raising clocks φ1and φ2 are generated by an oscillation circuit 46, such as a ringoscillator.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the voltage boosting circuit 44shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a waveform graph showing the voltageraising clocks φ1 and φ2.

As shown in FIG. 4, the voltage boosting circuit 44 comprises aplurality of charge pump circuits 54 each consisting of a MOSFET 48supplied with the power supply voltage VCC at an end of the currentpassage and the gate thereof, a MOSFET 50 having an end of the currentpassage and the gate connected to another end of the current passage ofthe MOSFET 48 and a capacitor 52 having an electrode connected to an endof the current passage of the MOSFET 50. The charge pump circuits 54 areconnected successively by connecting the other end of the currentpassage of the MOSFET 50 to an end of the current passage of the nextMOSFET 50. The capacitor 52 has another electrode which is alternatelysupplied with the two-phase voltage raising clocks φ1 and φ2. Thus,voltage raised from the power supply voltage, that is, the internalvoltage VPP for writing data, is obtained at an end of the currentpassage of the final MOSFET 50. The internal voltage VPP for writingdata generated by the voltage boosting circuit 44 is, as shown in FIG.1, limited to a predetermined value by using a VPP voltage limitingcircuit 56.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing the VPP voltage limiting circuit 56shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 6, the VPP voltage limiting circuit 56 includes aplurality of Zener diodes 58 connected in series. The cathode side endof the Zener diodes 58 connected in series is connected to a internalvoltage line 60 for writing data. The internal voltage line 60 forwriting data establishes the connection between the voltage boostingcircuit 44 and the row selection line driver 24. The anode side end ofthe Zener diodes 58 connected in series is connected to a point to whichvoltage VA determined by a voltage setting circuit 62 is supplied.

Three Zener diodes 58, connected in series, are provided in thisembodiment. Zener breakdown voltage Vz of each Zener diodes 58 is set to5V. Therefore, the Zener breakdown voltage Vz in the VPP voltagelimiting circuit 56 is 15V. The internal voltage VPP for writing datagenerated by the voltage boosting circuit 44 is, by the VPP voltagelimiting circuit 56, limited to the sum of the Zener breakdown voltageVz and the voltage VA, that is, 15V+VA.

The voltage setting circuit 62 for setting the voltage VA to be suppliedto the anode side end of the Zener diodes 58, as shown in FIG. 3,includes a voltage generating circuit 64, a reference voltage generatingcircuit 66, a voltage comparing circuit 68 and a variable resistancecircuit 70.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing the voltage setting circuit 62 shownin FIG. 3.

Then, the description will initially be made about the voltagegenerating circuit 64.

As shown in FIG. 7, the voltage generating circuit 64 includes ninevoltage dividing resistors R1 to R9, in series, connected a positionbetween the anode side end of the VPP voltage limiting circuit 56 andthe ground point and eight CMOS type transfer gates 72-0 to 72-7, an endof the current passage of each of which is connected to a seriesconnection point of the resistor R1 to R9 and other ends of the currentpassages of which are commonly connected. The gate of the N channelMOSFET and the gate of the P channel MOSFET of the eight transfer gates72-0 to 72-7 are supplied with pairs of switch signals SW0 and /SW0 (/given to the leading end means a reverse signal) to SW7 and /SW7 whichcorrespond to each other and are complementary.

The voltage generating circuit 64 divides the voltage between thepotential of the anode side end of the VPP voltage limiting circuit 56and the ground into 8 levels by the resistors R1 to R9. By using theswitch signals SW0 to SW7 to make any one of the eight transfer gates72-0 to 72-7 to be conductive, any one of the eight voltages provided bythe division above can be selected. As a result, the voltage VB of theend of the transfer gates 72-0 to 72-7 connected commonly can be set toany one of the eight levels. By making any one of the transfer gates72-0 to 72-7 to be conductive, any one of the eight levels of thevoltage VB can be selected.

The reference voltage generating circuit 66 includes two Zener diodes 74and 76, in series, connected to positions between the end, at which theintermediate potential VM is supplied, and the ground and two resistors78 and 80, in series, connected between the connection point, at whichthe Zener diodes 74 and 76 are connected to each other, and the ground.

The reference voltage generating circuit 66 divides the potentialdifference between intermediate potential VM and the ground into twolevels by Zener diodes 74 and 76. Moreover, the reference voltagegenerating circuit 66 divides the potential difference between the twolevels, realized by the division, and the ground in accordance with theresistance ratio of the resistors 78 and 80 so that stable referencevoltage VR is generated.

The voltage comparing circuit 68 is a differential calculationamplifying circuit including P channel MOSFETs 82 and 84 and N channelMOSFETs 86 and 88 for operation. The gate of the N channel MOSFET 86 foroperation is supplied with the voltage VB selected by the voltagegenerating circuit 64, while the gate of the N channel MOSFET 88 issupplied with the reference voltage VR generated by the referencevoltage generating circuit 66.

The voltage comparing circuit 68 compares the voltage VB and thereference voltage VR with each other to obtain voltage VL correspondingto the result of the comparison, the result being obtained from theconnection point between the MOSFET 84 and the MOSFET 88 for operation.

An end of the current passage of the MOSFET 86 for operation and an endof the current passage of the MOSFET 88 for operation are connected to acommon connection point. The current passage of an N channel MOSFET 90is, in series, connected to a position between the foregoing commonconnection point and the ground. The gate of the N channel MOSFET 90 issupplied with control signal VON. When the level of the control signalVON has been raised, the N channel MOSFET 90 is made to be conductive.The voltage comparing circuit 68 starts the comparison operation whenthe N channel MOSFET 90 has been made to be conductive.

Note that the control signal VON is controlled in accordance with, forexample, a data writing/reading sequence. As a result, the comparisonoperation of the voltage comparing circuit 68 can be controlled to beperformed if necessary in accordance with, for example, the datawriting/reading sequence. Thus, wasteful enlargement of the electricconsumption can be prevented.

The variable resistance circuit 70 includes an N channel MOSFET 92having a current passage, in series, connected between the anode sideend of the VPP voltage limiting circuit 56 and the ground. The gate ofthe N channel MOSFET 92 is supplied with voltage VL output from thevoltage comparing circuit 68.

The conduction resistance of the variable resistance circuit 70 havingthe foregoing structure is changed in accordance with the voltage VL. Bychanging the conduction resistance in accordance with the voltage VL,the degree of voltage drop can be varied. The voltage VA in accordancewith the foregoing dropped voltage is supplied to the anode side end ofthe VPP voltage limiting circuit 56.

A capacitor 94 is connected between the. anode side end of the VPPvoltage limiting circuit 56 and the end of the current passage of thetransfer gates 72-0 to 72-7 connected commonly. The capacitor 94 isprovided to prevent oscillation.

The operation of the high-voltage generating circuit 42 shown in FIG. 3will now be described.

Initially, voltage raising clocks φ1 and φ2 are oscillated by theoscillation circuit 46. The oscillated voltage raising clocks φ1 and φ2are supplied to the charge pump type voltage boosting circuit 44. Whenthe charge pump type voltage boosting circuit 44 has been supplied withthe voltage raising clocks φ1 and φ2, it raises the power supply voltageVCC to the internal voltage VPP for writing data. After the internalvoltage VPP for writing data has been raised sufficiently, the VPPvoltage limiting circuit 56 is turned on. The VPP voltage limitingcircuit 56 limits the internal voltage VPP for writing data to 3×Vz+VAas described with reference to FIG. 6.

Moreover, the voltage setting circuit 62 sets voltage VA to be suppliedto the anode side end of the VPP voltage limiting circuit 56 byperforming the following operation.

Initially, an assumption is performed that the level of only the switchsignal SW3 among the switch signals SW0 to SW7 to be supplied to thevoltage generating circuit 64 included in the voltage setting circuit 62has been raised. In this state, only the transfer gate 72-3 of the eighttransfer gates 72-0 to 72-7 shown in FIG. 7 is made to be conductive.The voltage VB is VB={RB/(RA+RB)}×VA assuming that the resistance fromthe connection point of the output for voltage VB to the ground point isRB and the resistance from the connection point of the output for thevoltage VA to the connection point of the output for the voltage VB isRA:

VB={RB/(RA+RB)}×VA

The voltage comparing circuit 68 included in the voltage setting circuit62 is a differential operation type calculation amplifying circuit inthe form as shown in FIG. 7. In the calculation amplifying circuit ofthe foregoing type performs a comparison operation in such a manner thatthe voltage VB is made to be the same as the reference voltage VR. As aresult, also the reference voltage VR is {RB/(RA+RB)}×VA.

The voltage VA set by the voltage setting circuit 62 is {(RA+RB)/RB}×VR,more simply {1+(RA/RB)}×VR. By changing the value of (RA/RB) in theforegoing relationship, the voltage VA can be changed. If the resistancevalue RB is enlarged and the resistance value RA is reduced, the voltageVA can be lowered so that the internal voltage VPP for writing data islowered. On the other hand, if the resistance value RB is reduced andthe resistance value RA is enlarged, the voltage VA can be raised sothat the internal voltage VPP for writing data is raised.

In this embodiment, the voltage VA can be varied to eight values. Sincethe resistance value RA can be minimized and the resistance value RB canbe maximized when the level of switch signal SW1 has been raised and thetransfer gate 72-0 has been made to be conductive in this embodiment,the internal voltage VPP for writing data is set to be the lowest level.By sequentially shifting the transfer gates 72-0 to 72-7 which are madeto be conductive in this order, the level of the internal voltage VPPfor writing data can sequentially be raised.

The NAND EEPROM having the high-voltage generating circuit 42 includingthe voltage setting circuit 62 according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention is operated such that the voltage VA to be supplied tothe anode side end of the VPP voltage limiting circuit 56 is changed byraising the level of any one of the switch signals SW0 to SW7 to changethe transfer gate among 72-0 to 72-7 to be made to be conductive so thatthe internal voltage VPP for writing data is varied to eight levels.

The NAND EEPROM according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention, as shown in FIG. 1, includes, in the chip thereof, aset-voltage selection circuit 100 for generating a plurality of switchsignals SW for changing the internal voltage VPP for writing data.

The set-voltage selection circuit 100 comprises a voltage-setting-signalgenerating circuit 104 in which set voltage is programmed, avoltage-setting-signal generating circuit 104 for generating a pluralityof voltage setting signals LTF in accordance with the state of theprogram in the program circuit 102 and a switch-signal decoder 106 fordecoding the setting signal LTF to activate one of the plural switchsignals SW.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing the program circuit 102 and thevoltage-setting-signal generating circuit 104 shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 8, program circuit 102 includes fuses FnP (F0P to F2P)for programming the internal voltage for writing data and N channelMOSFETs 108-n (108-0 to 108-2) having the current passage, an end ofwhich is connected to the fuse FnP and another end of which is connectedto the ground. The gate of each of the MOSFETs 108-n is supplied withcontrol signal PCHP0.

The voltage-setting-signal generating circuit 104 includes buffercircuits 110-n (110-0 to 110-2) each having an input end connected to asupply end for the control signal PCHP0 and including even number ofinverters and buffer circuits 112-n (112-0 to 112-2) each having aninput end connected to a connection point between the output end of eachof the buffer circuits 110-n, including even number of inverters andmade to be conductive in response to a command signal CM88H.

Output signals from the buffer circuits 112-n are supplied to the buffercircuits 116-n (116-0 to 116-2) including the even number of invertersso that the buffer circuits 116-n output setting signals LTFn (LTF0 toLTF2).

In this embodiment, three circuit 119 are provided each of whichincludes the fuse FnP, the MOSFETs 108-n, the buffer circuits 110-n andthe buffer circuits 112-n and arranged to output the setting signalsLTFn. As a result, the set-voltage selection circuit 100, in the insideportion thereof, generates three setting signals LTF0 to LTF2. The threesetting signals LTF0 to LTF2 are complemented to one another. Thus, sixsetting signals LTF0, /LTF0 to LTF2 and /LTF2 generated due to thecomplementing process are supplied to the decoder 106.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing the decoder 106 shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 9, the decoder 106 has 23 decoding circuits DEC. 0 toDEC. 7 for detecting the setting signals LTF0 to LTF2.

Each of the decoding circuit DEC. 0 to DEC. 7 includes a NAND gatecircuit 122 arranged to be supplied with three corresponding settingsignals among the six setting signals LTF0, /LTF0 to LTF2 and /LTF2 andtransmitting NAND logic of the three supplied setting signals, a NORgate circuit 126 having a first input end connected to an output end ofthe NAND gate circuit 122 and a second output end connected to an outputend of an inverter 124 for transmitting a reverse signal of the controlsignal PCHP1 and arranged to transmit the NOR logic of the reversesignal level of the control signal PCHP1 and the output signal level ofthe NAND gate circuit 122 and a buffer circuit 128 having a plurality ofinverters having input ends connected to the output end of the NOR gatecircuit 126. The switch signal SW1 is transmitted from the decodingcircuit DEC. 1, while the switch signals SW2 to SW7 are sequentiallytransmitted from the decoding circuits DEC. 2 to DEC. 7. Note that thecontrol signal PCHP0 is a signal, the level of which is raised in theinitial stage of the writing sequence. Each of the program circuit 102and the voltage-setting-signal generating circuit 104 is activated inresponse to the control signal PCHP0. As a result, the program circuit102 and the voltage-setting-signal generating circuit 104 canindividually be activated if necessary. Thus, waste enlargement of theelectric power consumption can be prevented.

The control signal PCHP1 is a signal, the level of which is raised afterthe level of the control signal PCHP0 has been raised. The timing thatPCHP1 transits from “Low” to “High” is after the PCHP0 has been in“high” state. So, LTF0 to LTF3 states are determined. Thereforemalfunction of SW0 to SW7 does not occur. Also the decoder 106 can beactivated if necessary in response to the control signal PCHP0. Thus,waste enlargement of the electric power consumption can be prevented.

In place of directly obtaining the switch signals SW0 to SW7 from theNAND gate circuit 122, the switch signals SW1 to SW7 are obtainedthrough the NOR gate circuit 126 which transmits the NOR logic of theoutput from the NAND gate circuit 122 and the reverse signal of thecontrol signal PCHP1 so that a malfunction of, in particular, thehigh-voltage generating circuit 42 is prevented. The reason for thiswill now be described. When the level of the control signal PCHP1 islow, that is, when the decoder 106 is in the deactivated state, thepotential level of the output from the NOR gate circuit 126 can be madeto be the low level regardless of the potential level of the output fromthe NAND gate circuit 122. When the level of the control signal PCHP1 islow, the potential levels of all switch signals SW1 to SW7 can always bemade to be the low levels. When the potential levels of the switchsignals SW1 to SW7 are low, all of the transfer gates 72-0 to 72-7 shownin FIG. 7 are turned off. As a result, unexpected operation, that is,malfunction of the high-voltage generating circuit 42 can be prevented.

The operation of the set-voltage selection circuit 100 shown in FIG. 1will now be described with reference to circuit diagrams shown in FIGS.8 and 9.

As shown in FIG. 8, the state where the three fuses F0P to F2P aredisconnected includes eight states. An assumption is performed that onlythe fuse F0P is disconnected and the fuses F1P and F2P are notdisconnected. In this state, the level of the control signal PCHP0 israised. If the level of the control signal PCHP0 has been raised, highlevel signals are supplied to the input ends of the buffer circuits110-0 to 110-2 so that the buffer circuits 110-0 to 110-2 transmit highlevel signals from the output ends thereof. However, the output ends ofthe buffer circuits 110-1 and 110-2 are grounded through the fuses F1Pand F2P because the MOSFETs 108-1 and 108-2 are made to be conductive.Therefore, the high level signal is supplied to only the input terminalof the buffer circuit 112-0. The buffer circuits 112-0 to 112-2respectively transmit high level, low level and low level signals. As aresult, the levels of the setting signals LTF0, LTF1 and LTF2respectively be made to be high, low and low levels. The setting signalsLTF0, LTF1 and LTF2 having the foregoing levels respectively aresupplied to the NAND gate circuits 122 of the decoding circuits DEC. 0to DEC. 7. Only the NAND gate circuit 122 included in the decodingcircuit DEC. 0 receives signals, the levels of which are high withoutexception because the setting signal LTF0, the reverse setting signal/LTF1 and the reverse setting signal /LTF 2 are supplied. Only the NANDgate circuit 122 among the NAND gate circuits 122 respectively includedin the decoding circuits DEC. 0 to DEC. 7 that is included in thedecoding circuit DEC. 0 transmits a low level signal. When the level ofthe control signal PCHP1 has been raised afterwards, the NOR gatecircuits 126 included in the decoding circuits DEC. 0 to DEC. 7 arerespectively activated so that the reverse values of the outputs fromthe NAND gate circuits 122 are transmitted. Therefore, only the level ofthe switch signal SW1 to be transmitted from the decoding circuit DEC. 0is raised. The levels of the other switch signals SW1 to SW7 arelowered.

As described above, the set-voltage selection circuit 100 of the NANDEEPROM according to the first embodiment is able to transmit only theswitch signal SW1 having the high level when the program for cuttingonly the fuse F0P is operated. FIG. 10 shows the relationship betweenthe eight states of the fuse FnP and the values of the setting signals.FIG. 11 shows the relationship between the eight states of the fuse FnPand input values (the setting signals) to the decoder. FIG. 12 shows therelationship between the eight states of the fuse FnP and the outputvalues (the switch signals) from the decoder.

Moreover, the NAND EEPROM according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention enables the value of the set internal voltage VPP forwriting data to be detected without the necessity of decomposition evenafter the device has been packaged by a multiplexer 130 disposed in aline for establishing the connection between the I/O data bus 34 and theoutput buffer 36. The multiplexer 130 multiplexes setting signal LTF andoutput data signal DOUT in response to control signal NRL. When thecontrol signal NRL has been supplied, the setting signal LTF istransmitted to the outside of the integrated circuit chip through theI/O pad group 38. As a result, even after the chip has been packaged,the set internal voltage for writing data can be detected without anecessity of decomposing the chip to visually observe the state wherethe fuse has been cut.

Note that the control signal NRL is supplied from, for example, theoutside of the chip.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the multiplexer shown in FIG. 1, and FIG.14 is a circuit diagram showing the multiplexer shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 13, data output lines 132-0 to 132-7 for establishingthe connection between the I/O data bus 34 and the output buffer 36. Thedata output lines 132-0 to 132-7 respectively are provided to correspondto eight output data signals DOUT0 to DOUT7 such that the line 132-0 isprovided for outputting data signal DOUT0 and the line 132-1 is providedfor outputting data signal DOUT1. The multiplexer 130 is connected to anintermediate point between the line 132-0 and the line 132-7. Themultiplexer 130 includes a first multiplexer MPX. 0 for inputting thesetting signal LTF0 to the output line 132-0, a second multiplexer MPX.1 for inputting the setting signal LTF1 to the output line 132-1 and athird multiplexer MPX. 2 for inputting the setting signal LTF2 to theoutput line 132-2. In response to the control signal NRL, themultiplexer MPX. 0 to MPX. 2 convert the corresponding setting signalsLTF0 to LTF2 into the data signals DOUT0 to DOUT2 to supply the datasignals DOUT0 to DOUT2 to the pads I/O1 to I/O2 disposed in the I/O padgroup 38 through the output buffer 36. The setting signals LTF0 to LTF2supplied to the pads I/O1 to I/O2 are, through lead terminals (notshown), transmitted to the outside of the chip.

As shown in FIG. 14, the multipexers MPX. 0 to MPX. 2 includecorresponding CMOS transfer gates 134-0 to 134-2 for conducting datasignals DOUT, which receive data signals DOUT0 to DOUT2 at ends of thecurrent passages thereof, and which transmit data signals DOUT0 to DOUT2from other ends of the current passages thereof, and CMOS transfer gates136-0 to 136-2 for conducting setting the signals LTF, which receivesetting signals LTF0 to LTF2 at ends of current passages thereof andwhich have other ends of the current passages connected to the outputends of the transfer gates 134-0 to 134-2.

The gates of the N channel MOSFET of the transfer gates 134-0 to 134-2are supplied with the control signal control signal NRL, while the gatesof the P channel MOSFET of the same are supplied with the reversecontrol signal /NRL. The gates of the N channel MOSFET of the transfergates 136-0 to 136-2 are supplied with the reverse control signal /NRL,while the gates of the P channel MOSFET are received with the controlsignal NRL. As a result, when the level of the control signal NRL ishigh, only the transfer gates 134-0 to 134-2 are made to be conductiveso that data signals DOUT0 to DOUT2 are transmitted to the pads I/O0 toI/O2 through the output buffer 36. When the level of the control signalNRL is lowered, the transfer gates 134-0 to 134-2 are turned off and thetransfer gates 136-0 to 136-2 are made to be conductive. As a result,the setting signals LTF0 to LTF2 are transmitted to the pads I/O0 toI/O2 through the output buffer 36.

To detect the set internal voltage VPP for writing data, the switchsignal SW, which is finally transmitted from the set-voltage selectioncircuit 100, may be transmitted to the outside in place of the settingsignal LTF.

However, the setting signal LTF generated in the set-voltage selectioncircuit 100 is transmitted to the outside in place of the switch signalSW so that the number of wiring lines can be decreased and the densityof the integrated circuit is advantageously be raised. Since the switchsignal SW is a signal obtained by a result of the operation of decodingthe plural setting signals LTF, the number of the switch signals SW isincreased by the power of the number of the setting signals LTF suchthat the switch signals SW is increased to 23 if three setting signalsLTF exist and the same is increased to 24 if four setting signals LTFexist. Therefore, the number of wiring lines can be decreased bytransmitting the setting signal LTF to the outside.

To detect whether the set internal voltage VPP for writing data isaccurately transmitted, the voltage VL shown in FIG. 7 is amplified andthen transmitted to the outside. If the level of the output of thevoltage VL or the level of the output of a signal obtained by amplifyingthe output of the voltage VL is high, it can be determined that thevalue of the set internal voltage VPP for writing data is transmittedaccurately.

As described above, the NAND EEPROM according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention has the high-voltage generating circuit 42 forselecting the internal voltage VPP for writing data from a plurality ofvoltage levels by the switch signal SW so that a device capable ofchanging the internal voltage VPP for writing data to correspond to thechange in the characteristic of the cells occurring due to thedispersion in the manufacturing process is obtained.

Since the set-voltage selection circuit 100 is provided to program theinternal voltage VPP for writing data, a device capable of programmingthe internal voltage VPP for writing data for each chip can be obtained.

Since the multiplexer 130 for transmitting the setting signal LTF to theoutside is provided, the set internal voltage VPP for writing data canbe detected even after the chip has been packaged without the necessityof decomposing the package. The realized capability of detecting the setinternal voltage VPP for writing data without the necessity ofdecomposing the package is advantageous to investigate the cause of anabnormal operation of the chip. For example, the package is not neededto be decomposed, that is, the integrated circuit is not needed to bebroken to investigate the cause of an abnormal operation.

A NAND EEPROM according to a second embodiment of the present inventionwill now be described. The NAND EEPROM according to the secondembodiment has a structure such that the internal voltage VPP forwriting data of the NAND EEPROM according to the first embodiment can beset variable in response to a signal supplied from the outside. As aresult, the operation of the device can previously be verified by usingthe various levels of the internal voltage VPP for writing data beforethe fuse is cut. Thus, an optimum level of the internal voltage VPP forwriting data can be detected for each chip. Moreover, the optimum levelobtained by the previous verification can semipermanently maintained.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the NAND EEPROM according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 15, the NAND EEPROM according to this embodiment isparticularly different from the NAND EEPROM shown in FIG. 1 in a setvoltage selection circuit 100′. The set-voltage selection circuit 100′includes a test program circuit 140 capable of varying the settingsignal LTF in response to a signal input from outside.

FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram showing a program circuit 102, avoltage-setting-signal generating circuit 104 and a test program circuit140 shown in FIG. 15.

As shown in FIG. 16, the structures of the program circuit 102 and thevoltage-setting-signal generating circuit 104 are similar to those ofthe NAND EEPROM shown in FIG. 1. The test program circuit 140 includeslatch circuits 142-n (142-0 to 142-2) which are capable of changing datastored therein in response to a signal supplied from outside and buffercircuits 144-n (144-0 to 144-2) having input ends connected to theoutput ends of the latch circuits 142-n, including a plurality ofinverters and made to be conductive in response to command signal CM88H.The buffer circuits 144-n are operated complementarily with buffercircuits 112-n (112-0 to 112-2) in response to the command signal CM88H.The output ends of the buffer circuits 144-n are connected to lineswhich establish the connection between the output ends of the buffercircuits 112-n and the first input ends of the NAND gate circuits 114-n.As a result, output signals from the buffer circuits 144-n can besupplied to the input ends of the NAND gate circuits 114-n in place ofthe output signals from the buffer circuits 112-n.

The latch circuits 142-n include corresponding first inverters 146-n(146-0 to 146-2), second inverters 148-n (148-0 to 148-2) having inputends connected to the output ends of the first inverters 146-n and CMOStransfer gates 150-n (150-0 to 150-2) having current passages, inseries, connected between the input ends of the first inverters 146-nand the output ends of the second inverters 148-n. The gates of the Nchannel MOSFET of the CMOS transfer gates 150-n are supplied with thecontrol signal FVPP, while the gates of the P channel MOSFET of the sameare supplied with reverse control signal /FVPP. The connection pointsbetween the current passages of the transfer gates 150-n and the outputends of the second inverters 148-n are connected to the input ends ofthe buffer circuits 144-n.

Ends of the current passages of the CMOS transfer gates 152-n (152-0 to152-2) are connected to the connection points between the currentpassages of the transfer gates 150-n and the input ends of the firstinverters 146-n, the CMOS transfer gates 152-n having other ends forreceiving input signals DINnS (DIN0S to DIN2S) and being arranged totransfer the input signals DINsS to the latch circuits 142-n. The gatesof the N channel MOSFETs of the transference CMOS transfer gate 152-nare supplied with the reverse control signal /FVPP, while the gates ofthe P channel MOSFETs of the same are supplied with the control signalFVPP. As a result, the CMOS transfer gates 152-n for transferring thesignals are complementarily operated with the CMOS transfer gates 150-ndisposed in the latch circuits 142-n.

Moreover, an end of the current passage of an N channel MOSFET 154 forwriting initial data to the latch circuits 142-n is connected to theconnection points between the current passages of the transfer gates150-n and the input ends of the first inverters 146-n. Another end ofthe current passage of the MOSFET 154 for writing initial data isgrounded, the MOSFET 154 having a gate to which control signal P4VON issupplied. The control signal P4VON is a signal, the level of which israised when, for example, the power is supplied to the device. In aperiod in which the level of the control signal P4VON is high, theMOSFET 154 for writing initial data is made to be conductive so that ahigh level signal is supplied to each of the input ends of the firstinverters 146-n. As a result, a low level signal is supplied to thebuffer circuits 144-0.

Note that the command signal CM88H is a signal, the level of which israised when the level of the internal voltage VPP for writing data isexperimentally set and the level of which is lowered when the internalvoltage VPP for writing data which has been set by fuse FnP is used.

The operation of the set-voltage selection circuit 100′ shown in FIG. 15will now be described with reference to a circuit diagram shown in FIG.16.

Since the operation to be performed after the fuses F0P to F2P have beencut is the similar to that of the NAND EEPROM according to the firstembodiment, the operation is omitted from the description. Thedescription will be made about the operation to be performed only whenthe test program is performed.

Initially, electric power is supplied to the device. When the electricpower has been supplied, the level of the control signal P4VON istemporarily raised and, therefore, the MOSFET 154 is made to beconductive. Thus, same data is written to the latch circuits 142-0 to142-2. Written data is data for supplying low level signals to the inputends of the buffer circuits 144-0 to 144-2.

At this time, the level of control signal FVPP has been raised so thatthe transfer gates 150-0 to 150-2 are made to be conductive and thetransfer gates 152-0 to 152-2 are turned off.

The level of the control signal PCHP0 is lowered so that also a lowlevel signal is supplied to each second input end of the NAND gatecircuits 114-0 to 114-2. Therefore, the NAND gate circuits 114-0 to114-2 respectively transmit high level signals so that the levels of allof the setting signals LTF0 to LTF2 are lowered.

To test the internal voltage VPP for writing data, the eightcombinations of values of input signals DIN0S to DIN2S are supplied. Anexample of the combinations will now be described in which the levels ofthe input signals DIN1S and DIN2S are made to be the low levels.

Initially, the level of the input signal DIN0S is raised and the levelsof the input signals DIN1S and DIN2S are lowered. Then, the level of thecontrol signal FVPP is lowered. When the level of the control signalFVPP has been lowered, the transfer gates 152-0 to 152-2 are made to beconductive so that the transfer gates 150-0 to 150-2 are turned off. Asa result, the input signals DIN0S to DIN2S are transferred to the latchcircuits 142-0 to 142-2. After the input signals DIN0S to DIN2S havebeen transferred to the latch circuits 142-0 to 142-2, the level of thecontrol signal FVPP is raised, the transfer gates 152-0 to 152-2 areturned off, and the transfer gates 150-0 to 150-2 are made to beconductive. As a result, data corresponding to the input signals DIN0Sto DIN2S is stored in the latch circuits 142-0 to 142-2. In thisembodiment, data is stored in the latch circuits 142-0 to 142-2 suchthat data stored by only the latch circuit 142-0 is reversed as comparedwith the initial data.

The foregoing operation is performed after the MOSFET 154 has beenturned off.

Then, the level of the command signal CM88H is raised, the buffercircuits 144-0 to 144-2 are activated and the buffer circuits 112-0 to112-2 are deactivated. Therefore, the first input ends of the NAND gatecircuits 114-0 to 114-2 are supplied with high or low level signals fromthe buffer circuits 144-0 to 144-2 in accordance with data stored in thelatch circuits 142-0 to 142-2.

Then, the level of the control signal PCHP0 is raised. In a period inwhich the level of the control signal PCHP0 is high, the NAND gatecircuits 114-0 to 114-2 are activated. Only the NAND gate circuit 114-0among the activated NAND gate circuits 114-0 to 114-2 transmits a lowlevel signal. As a result, the levels of the setting signals LTF0, LTF1and LTF2 are made to be high level, low level and low level,respectively.

The foregoing state is equivalent to the state described with referenceto FIG. 8 in which only the fuse F0P has been cut. Therefore, the levelof only the switch signal SW1 transmitted from the decoding circuit DEC.0 is raised, while the levels of all of the other switch signals SW1 toSW7 are lowered.

In the foregoing state, the writing operation is performed. If thewriting operation is too slow, that is, an excessively long time takesplace for the threshold of the memory cell to be shifted to apredetermined threshold, an operation for raising the level of theinternal voltage VPP for writing data is performed.

In this embodiment, the level of only the switch signal SW1 is raisedand the levels of all of the other switch signals SW1 to SW7 arelowered. Therefore, the foregoing state is a state where the internalvoltage VPP for writing data is set to 17V when a reference is made tothe table shown in FIG. 12.

To raise the level of the internal voltage VPP for writing data from 17Vto 18V, the fuse F1P is needed to be cut as shown in FIG. 10. Therefore,the level of the input signal DIN1S is raised and the levels of theinput signals DIN0S and DIN2S are lowered.

As described above, the NAND EEPROM having the test program circuit 140shown in FIG. 16 is able to realize the state where the fuses F0P to F2Pare cut by raising or lowering the level of each of the input signalsDIN0S to DIN2S. Therefore, the fuse needed to be cut, that is, the levelof the internal voltage VPP for writing data can be determinedappropriately before the fuses F0P to F2P are cut.

The NAND EEPROMs according to the first and second embodiments isarranged to minimize the fuse cutting process by employing a structuresuch that no fuse is cut when the voltage level is the internal voltageVPP for writing data which is expected to take place most frequently.

In the case shown in FIG. 10, no fuse is cut when state 4 is realized.The state 4 is, as shown in FIG. 12, a state where the internal voltageVPP for writing data is 20V. That is, the NAND EEPROM according to thefirst and second embodiments have circuits and cells designed in such amanner that the internal voltage VPP for writing data is made to be 20V.

The input signal DIN0S and DIN2S are supplied to the inside of thedevice through the I/O pad group 38.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a portion in the vicinity of themultiplexer shown in FIG. 15.

As shown in FIG. 17, there are provided data input lines 156-0 to 156-7for establishing the connections between the I/O data bus 34 and theinput buffer 40. The data input lines 156-0 to 156-7 are provided tocorrespond to eight output data signals DIN0 to DIN7 such that the line156-0 is provided for inputting the data signal DIN0 and the line 156-1is provided for inputting the data signal DIN1. Lines 158-0 to 158-2 forsupplying DIN0S to DIN2S to a test program circuit 140 are connected tointermediate points of the lines 156-0 to 156-2 among the lines 156-0 to156-7.

The input signals DIN0S to DIN2S supplied from outside of the chip tothe pad I/O0 to I/O2 through lead terminals (not shown) respectively aresupplied to the data input lines 156-0 to 156-2, and then supplied tothe lines 158-0 to 158-2 connected to the data input lines 156-0 to156-2, followed by being supplied from the lines 158-0 to 158-2 to thetest program circuit 140.

A NAND EEPROM according to a third embodiment of the present inventionwill now be described.

The NAND EEPROM according to the third embodiment has a structure suchthat the high-voltage generating circuit 42 of the NAND EEPROM accordingto the first embodiment and capable of switching the voltage in responseto the switch signal is used to cause the high-voltage generatingcircuit 42 to be capable of generating internal voltage VPP for writingdata and erasing internal voltage VEE. As a result, the necessity ofproviding the high-voltage generating circuit 42 for each of theinternal voltage VPP for writing data and the erasing internal voltageVEE can be eliminated. Thus, the size of the circuit can be minimizedand the area of the chip of the device can be reduced.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing the NAND EEPROM according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 18, the NAND EEPROM according to this embodiment isdifferent from the NAND EEPROM shown in FIG. 1 and that shown in FIG. 15is a set-voltage selection circuit 100″.

The set-voltage selection circuit 100″ includes a data writing programcircuit 102P into which the internal voltage VPP for writing data isprogrammed, a data erasing program circuit 102E into which the erasinginternal voltage VEE is programmed, a data-writing-voltage settingsignal generating circuit 104P for generating a plurality of settingsignals LTF in accordance with the state of program in the programcircuit 102P, a data-erasing-voltage setting signal generating circuit104E for generating a plurality of setting signals LTF in accordancewith the state of program in the program circuit 102E, a data writingswitch signal decoder 106P for decoding the setting signal LTF toactivate one of the plural switch signals SW, a data erasing switchsignal decoder 106E, a data writing test program circuit 140P capable ofvarying the setting signal LTF when a signal has been supplied fromoutside and a data erasing test program circuit 140E.

FIG. 19 is a circuit diagram showing the program circuits 102P and 102E,the voltage setting signal generating circuits 104P and 104E and thetest program circuits 140P and 140E shown in FIG. 18. FIG. 20 is a blockdiagram showing program circuits 102P and 102E, the voltage settingsignal generating circuits 104P and 104E and the test program circuits140P and 140E shown in FIG. 18.

As shown in FIG. 19, the circuits for generating the setting signalsLTFn in accordance with the states of program in the program circuits102P and 102E or those in the test program circuits 140P and 140E aremainly the circuit 160P for use when data is written and the circuit160E for use when data is erased. In this embodiment, the buffercircuits 116PE-n calculate the NAND logic of the output signal from thecircuit 160P and that from the circuit 160E to obtain a plurality ofsetting signals LTFn by using the NAND logic.

The circuit 160P includes a test program circuit 140P similar to that ofthe device according to the second embodiment, while the circuit 160Eincludes a test program circuit 140E having a structure similar to thatof the test program circuit 140P. Therefore, the NAND EEPROM accordingto the third embodiment is able to carry out the writing operation testas described in the second embodiment and the erasing operation test.When the erasing operation test is conducted, the input signal DINnS isfetched into the latch circuits 142E-n in response to an erasingoperation test control signal FVPE similarly to the writing operationtest to cause the latch circuit 142E-n to store data corresponding tothe input signal D1NnS. Data stored in the latch circuit 142E-n is madeto correspond to a state of cutting of the fuse FnE included in theerasing program circuit 102E.

The circuit 160P is controlled in accordance with the command signalCM88H described in the first and second embodiments and arranged to beused to experimentally setting the internal voltage VPP for writing dataso as to instruct the writing sequence. The circuit 160E is controlledin accordance with the command signal CM66H arranged to be-used toexperimentally set the erasing internal voltage VEE so as to instructthe erasing sequence.

The operations of the circuits 160P and 160E will be describedschematically.

When the levels of both of the command signals CM88H and CM66H are low,both of the levels of the output signal from the circuit 160P and thatfrom the circuit 160E are made to be low so that the levels of all ofthe setting signals LTFn are fixed to low levels.

When a usual writing sequence is performed in this state, the level ofthe control signal PCHP0 is raised and that of the control signal PCHE0is lowered so that the levels of the setting signals LTFn respectivelyare made to correspond to the state of the fuse FnP. That is, when thefuse FnP has been cut, the level of the setting signal LTFn is raised.If the fuse FnP is not cut, the levels of the setting signals LTFn arelowered.

When a usual erasing sequence is performed, the level of the controlsignal PCHE0 is raised and that of the control signal PCHP0 is loweredso that the levels of the setting signals LTFn respectively are made tocorrespond to the state of the fuse FnE. That is, if the fuse FnE hasbeen cut, the levels of the setting signals LTFn are raised. If the fuseFnE is not cut, the levels of the setting signals LTFn are lowered.

When the writing sequence is performed in such a manner that theinternal voltage VPP for writing data is experimentally set, the levelof the command signal CM88H is raised and the low level of the commandsignal CM66H is maintained. Since the level of the control signal PCHE0is low at this time, the output signal from the circuit 160P is changedin accordance with the states of latching in the latch circuits 142P-nin such a manner that the high level of the output signal from thecircuit 160E is maintained. When the level of the output signal from thecircuit 160P is high, the levels of the setting signals LTFn arelowered. When the level of the output signal from the circuit 160P islow, the levels of the setting signals LTFn are raised.

When the erasing sequence is performed in such a manner th at theerasing internal voltage VEE is experimentally set, the level of thecommand signal CM66H is raised so that the low level of the commandsignal CM88H is maintained. In this case, the process is performed in amanner different from the experimental writing sequence such that theoutput signal from the circuit 160E is changed in accordance with thestate of latching in the latch circuit 142E-n in such a manner that thehigh level of the output signal from the circuit 160P is maintained. Ifthe level of the output signal from the circuit 160E is high, the levelof the setting signals LTFn is lowered. If the level of the outputsignal from the circuit 160E is low, the level of the setting signalsLTFn is raised.

As shown in the block diagram shown in FIG. 20, the NAND EEPROMaccording to the third embodiment has the three circuits shown in FIG.19. The block given reference numeral 162 in FIG. 20 corresponds to thecircuit shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a circuit diagram showing decoders 106P and 106E for decodingplural setting signals LTF to transmit plural switch signals SW.

As shown in FIG. 21, the decoders 106P and 106E include decoding circuitDEC. n (DEC. 0 to DEC. 7). Each of the decoding circuits DEC. n includesa circuit 164P for use when data is written and a circuit 164E for usewhen data is erased. In this embodiment, the OR logic of the outputsignal from the circuit 164P and that from the circuit 164E arecalculated and the OR logic is used to obtain a plurality of switchsignals SWn (SW1 to SW7).

The circuit 164P is controlled in response to the control signal PCHP1described in the first embodiment and having the level which is raisedafter the level of the control signal PCHP0 has been raised. On theother hand, the circuit 164E is controlled in response to the controlsignal PCHE1 having the level which is raised after the control signalPCHE0 has been raised.

The operations of the circuits 164P and 164E will schematically bedescribed.

When the levels of both of the control signals PCHP1 and PCHE1 are low,the levels of both of the output signals from the circuits 164P and 164Eare low so that the levels of all of the switch signals SWn are fixed tolow levels.

When the level of the control signal PCHP1 is high and that of thecontrol signal PCHE1 is low in the writing sequence, only the outputsignal from the circuit 164P is changed in accordance with the level ofthe output signal from the NAND gate circuit 122P in such a manner thatthe low level of the output signal from the circuit 164E is maintained.When the level of the output signal from the circuit 164P is high, thelevel of the switch signal SWn is raised. When the level of the outputsignal from the circuit 164P is low, the level of the switch signal SWnis lowered.

When the level of the control signal PCHE1 is high and that of thecontrol signal PCHP1 is low in the erasing sequence, only the outputsignal from the circuit 164E is changed in accordance with the level ofthe output signal from the NAND gate circuit 122E in such a manner thatthe low level of the output signal from the circuit 164P is maintained.When the level of the output signal from the circuit 164E is high, thelevel of the switch signal SWn is raised. When the level of the outputsignal from the circuit 164E is low, the level of the switch signal SWnis lowered.

FIG. 22 shows the relationship between the eight states of the erasingfuses FnE and the levels of the setting signals. FIG. 23 shows therelationship between the eight states of the fuses FnE and input values(setting signals) to the decoders. FIG. 24 shows the relationshipbetween the eight states of the fuses FnE and output values (theswitching signals) from the decoders.

In the NAND EEPROM according to the third embodiment, the relationshipamong the eight states of the writing fuses FnP, the levels of thesetting signals, input values (the setting signals) to the decoders andoutput values from the decoders are similar to those shown in FIGS. 10,11 and 12.

The NAND EEPROM according to the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18,commonly uses one high-voltage generating circuit 42 to generate theinternal voltage VPP for writing data and to generate the erasinginternal voltage VEE. The internal voltage VPP for writing datagenerated by one high-voltage generating circuit 42 is supplied to therow selection line driver 24. The erasing internal voltage VEE issupplied to the row selection line driver 24 and the well and thesubstrate which are placed in the memory cell 10 and in which the cellis formed. Therefore, the portion, to which the internal voltage to begenerated by the high-voltage generating circuit 42 is supplied, isneeded to be switched between the writing sequence and the erasingsequence. A switch circuit 170 shown in FIG. 18 switches the portion towhich the internal voltage generated by the high-voltage generatingcircuit 42 is supplied between the writing sequence and the erasingsequence. The switch circuit 170 uses, for example, the control signalPCHP1 or PCHE1 with which the writing sequence and the erasing sequencecan be distinguished from each other to switch the portion to which theinternal voltage generated by the high-voltage generating circuit 42 issupplied.

The row selection line driver 24 of the NAND EEPROM according to thethird embodiment is, as shown in FIG. 18, supplied with the erasinginternal voltage VEE as well as the internal voltage VPP for writingdata.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing the row address decoder 22, the rowselection line driver 24 and the memory cell 10 shown in FIG. 18.

As shown in FIG. 25, the row address decoder 22 includes a main decodingcircuit 172 for decoding three low addresses, for example, low addressesA3R to A5R and transmitting eight output signals MDO and a partialdecoding circuit 174 for decoding other row addresses, for example,three row addresses A0R to A2R and transmitting eight partial decodingoutput signals PDO. The main decoding output signal MDO and the partialdecoding output signal PDO are supplied to the row selection line driver24. The main decoding output signal MDO0 selects one of blocks eachconsisting of a group of NAND cells 12. The partial decoding outputsignal PDO selects one of cells (not shown) formed in the NAND cell 12.The row selection line driver 24 includes operation circuits DRV. 0 toDRV. 7 provided for each eight main decoding output signals MDO.

FIG. 26 is a circuit diagram showing the operation circuits (DRV. n)shown in FIG. 25.

As shown in FIG. 26, each of the operation circuits DRV. n (DRV. 0 toDRV. 7) is supplied with power supply voltage V1 to V3 so as to becontrolled in response to control signals S1 to S5. The levels of thepower supply voltages V1 to V3 and the control signals S1 to S5 whendata is read, when data is written and when data is erased are shown inFIG. 27.

The writing operation and erasing operation to be performed by theoperation circuit shown in FIG. 26 will now be described.

When data is written, the levels of the controls signals S1 and S5 aremade to be level “VCC” and those of the control signals S2, S3 and S4are made to be level “GND”. Thus, the CMOS transfer gate 180 is turnedon and the CMOS transfer gate 182 is turned off.

An N channel MOSFET 184 which receives the control signal S1 at the gatethereof is turned on and an N channel MOSFET 186, a P channel MOSFET 188and an N channel MOSFET 190 which receive the control signal S3 at theirgates respectively are turned off, turned on and turned off. An Nchannel MOSFET 192 which receives the control signal S4 at the gatethereof is turned off, while an N channel MOSFET 194 which receives thecontrol signal S5 at the gate thereof is turned on.

As a result, the first selection gate line SG1 is supplied with thepotential (VM) of the power source V2 when the level of the maindecoding output signal MDOn is high. When the level of the main decodingoutput signal MDOn is low, the first selection gate line SG1 is suppliedwith the ground potential (GND). The second selection gate line SG2 isalways supplied with the ground potential (GND) regardless of the levelof the main decoding output signal MDOn.

When the level of the main decoding output signal MDOn is high, gates ofall N channel MOSFETs of the CMOS transfer gate group 196 are suppliedwith the potential (VPP) of the power supply V1 and the gates of all ofthe P channel MOSFETs are supplied with the ground potential (GND). As aresult, all gates of the CMOS transfer gate group 196 are turned on. Allof transistors of a transistor group 198, having the current passage, anend of which is connected to the control gate line CG and another end ofwhich is grounded, are turned off. Control gate line CG selected from alevel shift circuit group 200 in response to the partial decoding outputsignals PDOn (PDO0 to PDO7) is supplied with the potential VPP, whileother control gate lines CG are supplied with intermediate potential VM.As a result, data can be written to the cells connected to the controlgate lines CG which are being supplied with the potential VPP.

When the levels of the main decoding output signal MDOn are low, all ofthe gates in the CMOS transfer gate group 196 are turned off and all ofthe transistors in the transistor group 198 are turned on. Thus, theground potential (GND) is supplied to all of the control gate lines CG.As a result, data writing to all cells is inhibited.

As described above, blocks, to which data is needed to be written, canbe selected in accordance with the main decoding output signal MDOn.Moreover, rows, to which data is needed to be written, can be selectedfrom the selected block in accordance with the partial decoding outputsignals PDO0 to PDO7.

The erasing operation will now be described. When data is erased, thelevels of the control signals S1, S4 and S5 are made to be the level“GND”, that of the control signal S2 is made to be the level “VCC” andthat of the control signal S3 is made to be the level “VEE”. As aresult, the CMOS transfer gate 180 is turned off and the CMOS transfergate 182 is turned on.

The N channel MOSFET 184, having the gate which is supplied with thecontrol signal S1, is turned off, and the N channel MOSFET 186, the Pchannel MOSFET 188 and the N channel MOSFET 190, each having the gatewhich is supplied with the control signal S3, are respectively turnedon, turned off and turned off. The N channel MOSFET 192, having the gatewhich is supplied with the control signal S4, is turned off, while the Nchannel MOSFET 194, having the gate which is supplied with the controlsignal S5, is turned off.

As a result, the first selection gate line SG1 and the second selectiongate line SG2 are supplied with the potential obtained by subtractingthe threshold of the N channel MOSFET from the potential (VEE) of thepower source V3 regardless of the level of the main decoding outputsignal MDOn.

When the level of the main decoding output signal MDOn is high, all ofthe transfer gates of the CMOS transfer gate group 196 are turned offand all of the transistors in the transistor group 198 are turned on. Asa result, the ground potential (GND) is supplied to the control gateline CG. When the control gate line CG is grounded and the well and thesubstrate (not shown) are supplied with the potential VEE, data cancollectively be erased from all cells connected to the operation circuitto which the high level main decoding output signal MDOn is supplied.

When the levels of the main decoding output signal MDOn are low, all ofthe transfer gates in the CMOS transfer gate group 196 are turned on andall of the transistors in the transistor group 198 are turned off. As aresult, the output from a level shift circuit group 200 can be suppliedto the control gate line CG. By supplying the potential VEE from thelevel shift circuit group 200 to the control gate line CG, blocks fromwhich data is not erased can be obtained.

As described above, blocks from which data is needed to be erased can beselected in accordance with the main decoding output signal MDOn. Thus,data can collectively be erased from all blocks and data cancollectively be erased from only the selected blocks.

The NAND EEPROM according to the third embodiment enables the erasingoperation test to be performed in accordance with the combination of thecutting states of the fuses FnE. Therefore, an optimum level of theerasing internal voltage VEE, as well as the writing internal voltageVPP, obtained by the test can semipermanently be determined by the fusesFnE.

Since the multiplexer 130 for fetching the setting signal LTF to theoutside of the chip is provided as shown in FIG. 18, the internalvoltage VPP for writing data and the erasing internal voltage VEE can bedetected without the necessity of decomposing the chip. Therefore, ifthe chip performs an abnormal operation, the cause can be investigatedin accordance with the level of the erasing internal voltage VEE as wellas the internal voltage VPP for writing data.

Since one high-voltage generating circuit 42 is commonly used togenerate the internal voltage VPP for writing data and the erasinginternal voltage VEE as shown in FIG. 18, the size of the circuit can beminimized and the area of the chip of the device can be reduced.

As described above, according to the present invention, there areprovided a semiconductor integrated circuit device enabling the setinternal voltage level to be detected even after the device has beendecomposed, a method of investigating the cause of a failure of asemiconductor integrated circuit device by using the semiconductorintegrated circuit device, a semiconductor integrated circuit devicecapable of previously testing the operation of an integrated circuit ateach set voltage level, a method of testing the operation of asemiconductor integrated circuit device by using the semiconductorintegrated circuit device and a semiconductor integrated circuit devicewhich has a circuit for setting the internal voltage level to any one ofvarious levels, with which the size of the circuit can be minimized andwhich has a small area.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details, representative devices, andillustrated examples shown and described herein. Accordingly, variousmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims andtheir equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A semiconductor integrated circuit devicecomprising: a semiconductor chip; an integrated circuit provided in saidchip; an internal voltage generating circuit for generating first andsecond internal voltages used in said integrated circuit; a firstinternal voltage setting circuit for setting a level of the firstinternal voltage; a second internal voltage setting circuit for settinga level of the second internal voltage; a first determinating circuitfor determining the level of the first internal voltage; a seconddeterminating circuit for determining the level of the second internalvoltage; a first changing circuit for changing the level of the firstinternal voltage before said first determinating circuit determines thelevel of said first internal voltage; and a second changing circuit forchanging the level of the second internal voltage before said seconddeterminating circuit determines the level of said second internalvoltage.
 2. A semiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim1, wherein said integrated circuit includes a memory cell arrayincluding nonvolatile memory cells, a driving circuit for drivingcontrol gates of the memory cells, an outputting circuit for outputtinga data from the memory cells to the outside of said chip, and aninputting circuit for inputting a data from the outside of said chip tothe memory cell, and said internal voltage generating circuit suppliesthe first internal voltage and the second internal voltage to saiddriving circuit.
 3. A semiconductor integrated circuit device accordingto claim 2, wherein said first setting signal generating circuitincludes a first internal signal generating circuit for generating firstinternal signals in accordance with either of outputs of said firstdetermining circuit and said first changing circuit, a first decodingcircuit for decoding the first internal signals, a second internalsignal generating circuit for generating second internal signals inaccordance with either of outputs of said second determining circuit andsaid second changing circuit, a second decoding circuit for decoding thesecond internal signals, and said internal voltage generating circuitchanges the level of the first internal voltage in accordance withoutputs from said first decoding circuit and the level of the secondinternal voltage in accordance with outputs from said second decodingcircuit.
 4. A semiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim3, wherein said internal voltage generator includes a boosting circuitfor boosting a power supply voltage, a voltage limiting circuit forlimiting a level of a boosted voltage from said boosting circuit, avoltage switching circuit for switching the level of the first andsecond internal voltages, said voltage switching circuit switches alevel of a limited voltage from said voltage limiting circuit inaccordance with outputs from said first and second decoding circuits. 5.A semiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim 3, whereinsaid first and second determinating circuits each include programmingfuses and each output signals in accordance with a state of theprogramming fuses, said first and second changing circuits eachconnected to said input circuit and each output signals in accordancewith inputs from said input circuit.
 6. A semiconductor integratedcircuit device according to claim 3, further comprising: a level-settinginformation extracting circuit for extracting level-setting informationsfrom said first and second internal voltage setting circuits to theoutside of said chip.
 7. A semiconductor integrated circuit deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein said level-setting information extractingcircuit includes a multiplexing circuit for multiplexing the data formsaid memory cells and the first and second internal signals, and saidmultiplexing circuit supplies either of the data from said memory cellsor the first and second internal signals to said output circuit.
 8. Asemiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: a high voltagegenerating circuit for generating a boosting voltage which is higherthan an external power supply voltage; a voltage setting-signalgenerating circuit for generating a voltage setting-signal for use inoptionally setting a value of the boosting voltage for each of chips;and an extracting circuit for extracting the voltage setting-signal tothe outside of said each of the chips.
 9. A semiconducter integratedcircuit device comprising: a high voltage generating circuit forgenerating a boosting voltage which is higher than an external powersupply voltage; a voltage setting-signal generating circuit forgenerating a voltage setting-signal for use in optionally setting avalue of the boosting voltage for each of chips; a determining circuitfor semi-permanently determining a value of the voltage setting-signalgenerated by the voltage setting-signal generating circuit; a varyingcircuit for varying the value of the value setting-signal generated bythe voltage setting-signal generating circuit; and an extracting circuitfor extracting the voltage setting-signal to the outside of said each ofthe chips.
 10. A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: ahigh voltage generating circuit for generating a boosting voltage whichis higher than an external power supply voltage; a first voltagesetting-signal generating circuit for generating a voltagesetting-signal for use in optionally setting a value of the boostingvoltage for each of chips; a second voltage setting-signal generatingcircuit for optionally changing the boosting voltage, which is set bythe first voltage setting-signal generating circuit, to another voltagewhich differs from the boosting voltage, for said each of the chips; andan extracting circuit for extracting the voltage setting-signal to theoutside of said each of the chips.
 11. A semiconductor integratedcircuit device comprising: a generating circuit for generating awriting-boosting voltage and an erasing-boosting voltage which arehigher than an external power supply voltage; a writing voltagesetting-signal generating circuit for generating a writing voltagesetting- signal for use in optionally setting a value of theerasing-boosting voltage for each of chips; an erasing voltagesetting-signal generating circuit for generating an erasing voltagesetting-signal for use in optionally setting a value of theerasing-boosting voltage for said each of the chips; a first determiningcircuit for semi-permanently determining a value of the writing voltagesetting-signal generated by the writing voltage setting-signalgenerating circuit; a first varying circuit for varying a value of thewriting voltage setting-signal generated by the writing voltagesetting-signal generating circuit on the basis of a signal input fromthe outside of said each of the chips; a second determining circuit forsemi-permanently determining a value of the erasing voltagesetting-signal generated by the erasing voltage setting-signalgenerating circuit; a second varying circuit for semi-permanentlyvarying the value of the erasing voltage setting-signal generated by theerasing voltage setting-signal generating circuit on the basis of asignal input from the outside of said each of the chips; and anextracting circuit for extracting the writing voltage setting-signal andthe erasing voltage setting-signal.
 12. A method of verifying theoperation of a semiconductor integrated circuit device which comprises ahigh voltage generating circuit for generating a boosting voltage whichis higher than an external power supply voltage, and a voltagesetting-signal generating circuit for generating a voltagesetting-signal for use in optionally setting a value of the boostingvoltage for each of chips, the method comprising: extracting the voltagesetting-signal to the outside of said each of the chips; specifying avalue of the boosting voltage generated by the high voltage generatingcircuit based on the extracted voltage setting-signal; temporarilysetting a value of the voltage setting-signal on the basis of a signalinput from the outside of said each of the chips; and operating theintegrated circuit device based on the temporarily set value, and thenverifying the operation of the integrated circuit device.
 13. A methodof investigating cause of a failure of a semiconductor integratedcircuit device comprising a generating circuit for generating aninternal voltage which is required for an integrated circuit in asemiconductor chip, the method comprising: extracting, to the outside ofthe chip, a signal among internal signals of the integrated circuit withwhich the internal voltage generated by the generating circuit isallowed to be detected; detecting the level of the internal voltagegenerated by the generating circuit in accordance with the signal amongthe internal signals which is extracted; and investigating a causalrelationship between the internal voltage and the failure.
 14. A methodof verifying the operation of a semiconductor integrated circuit devicecomprising a generating circuit for generating an internal voltage whichis required for an integrated circuit in a semiconductor chip, such thatthe level of the internal voltage generated by the generating circuit isallowed to be set changeably, the method comprising: temporarily settingthe level of the internal voltage, the temporarily setting step beingcarried out in the outside of the chip; and verifying the operation ofthe integrated circuit by operating the integrated circuit with theinternal voltage the level of which is set temporarily.